George T. Smith III

Stephanie Hutchins Autry has been a trial lawyer since 1987 and has focused her practice on eminent domain since 2000. Before joining Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog as a partner in 1995, Stephanie was a partner in the Raleigh office of an international law firm. Stephanie’s career has included dozens of successful jury and bench trials and reported appellate decisions. For the last 15 years, Stephanie has concentrated her practice exclusively in the area of eminent domain, representing p...

3 Things to Know About Elizabeth Ligon: She is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law. She has been recognized on the “Best Lawyers” list for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants (2025–2026).* She brings more than a decade of experience representing employers and insurers in workers’ compensation cases. Elizabeth Ligon is a Partner at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin , where she focuses her workers&rsq...

Ms. Haywood's law practice is devoted to representing private property owners in land condemnation cases. She graduated in 1977 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in International Studies. In 1982, she received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law. After practicing for several years with a private law firm, Ms. Haywood went to work with the North Carolina Attorney General's office in Raleigh. F...

Lori’s practice is principally focused on workers’ compensation litigation. She advises and defends employers and insurers in the manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, hospitality and retail industries throughout all stages of litigation before the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Lori handles complex workers’ compensation issues and strives to provide efficient and effective resolutions for her clients, whether that means negotiating with the other side or taking ...

Merrill's practice experience encompasses a broad range of business law matters, including start-up businesses, business transfers and acquisitions, transactional matters, and tax matters. He has extensive experience representing contractors, design professionals, and project owners in drafting and negotiating construction, design, and design/build contracts. His practice also includes the representation of health care organizations and their owners in corporate, transactional, and merger and...

W. Scott Fuller is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. W. Scott, who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which W. Scott is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James T. Johnson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Consumer Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. James T., who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

3 Things to Know About Daniel Lehrer: He is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law. He was recognized on the “Best Lawyers” list for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants (2024–2026) after previously being named to Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” list (2021–2023).* He brings hands-on experience across all stages of workers’ compensation cases, from investigation to negotiation to litigation. D...

Having served in key leadership positions in state and federal government, Ed Turlington uses this experience to serve clients in a variety of industries, including health care, transportation and education. Much of his time is spent advising technology companies on legal issues and public policy matters. Ed has a distinguished record of public service. He has served as Chief of Staff to both the Governor and Lt. Governor of North Carolina, as Special Assistant/Counsel to a United States Sena...

A member of Manning Fulton's litigation section, Michael T. Medford has more than 37 years of experience representing clients in a broad range of complex commercial litigation and insurance disputes. His practice focuses on complex business litigation involving shareholder and partnership disputes, disputes relating to the purchase and sale of businesses, business and legal malpractice claims, lending disputes, employment disputes, securities law disputes and insurance coverage and procuremen...